SERIE A MATCH REPORT

TommasoRocchi’s bizarre scuffed goal proved enough to end Inter’s run of three consecutive home defeats, squeezing past Parma 1-0.

The Nerazzurri were in crisis with four consecutive home defeats between Serie A and the Coppa Italia semi-final against Roma, while Esteban Cambiasso and FredyGuarin joined the injury list with Rodrigo Palacio, Antonio Cassano, Diego Milito, Walter Gargano, YutoNagatomo, IbrahimaMbaye, Gaby Mudingayi, Joel Obi, DejanStankovic and Luca Castellazzi. Parma welcomed back Marco Parolo, but Gabriel Paletta was suspended.

Parma had lost their last six Serie A trips to Inter, winning here only once in May 1999. Inter ran the risk of setting a new record with a fourth consecutive home defeat.

YohanBenalouane’s early shot was smothered and ZdravkoKuzmanovic curled an effort over. After 17 minutes Andrea Ranocchia knocked down a free kick and EzequielSchelotto got there first to fire straight at Antonio Mirante from six yards.

Ricky Alvarez cut in on to his left foot and the shot was charged down, while at the other end SamirHandanovic had to smother a GianlucaSansone strike on the counter, then palmed Marco Parolo’s screamer round the near post with one hand.

From the resulting corner, Handanovicfingertipped a Benalouane effort just over, then from another corner Jaime Valdes smacked a fierce curler against the crossbar from the edge of the area.

Mirante flapped at a Jonathan cross, but Schelotto picked the wrong pass on the follow-up. Parma kept pushing and Marco Marchionni drilled just wide from the D.

Kuzmanovic pulled a reverse cross back for Schelotto, who fired wide from eight yards as Benalouane flung himself at him for the block.

A meek TommasoRocchi angled drive was well wide after the restart, then the veteran spun round for a shot that bobbled just past the upright.

Amauri with his back to goal knocked down a long ball and flicked it on to send Sansone clear, but the Under-21 international blasted just wide of the near post. Amauri spun round to fire over, as the Inter fans started to lose patience and jeered.

Jonathan Biabiany was sent clear by a Marchionni pass to the right, but Handanovic saw the danger and ran off his line to block with his face.

It was Inter who broke through in the final minutes with a stroke of luck. Mateo Kovacic’s pass found Jonathan down the right, who pulled back for Rocchi’s scuffed finish from 12 yards. It took a bizarre spin as he appeared to kick it on to his ankle, but the odd swerve completely wrong-footed Mirante.